PORTLAND | Nineteen Maine Seeds organized the first Summit on Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention on March 23 for 300 of their peers at Dexter Regional High School in Dexter, Maine.
The University of Maine’s Dr. Rebecca Swartz-Mette kicked off the summit by sharing mental health crisis warning signs and recommendations on how to respond.
The students also heard from Julia Hanson, a junior from Casco Bay High School, who lost two friends last year to suicide, and as a result, created The Yellow Tulip Project to help raise awareness and acceptance about mental health issues.
Nichol Webber, a social worker at Dexter, and the school’s principal, Stephen Bell, also addressed the summit.
“With this Summit, Dexter is leading the State in responding to the mental health of its students,” said Director of Maine Seeds Programs Tim Wilson.
“I’m so proud of the students who stepped up and planned this entire Summit. This needs to be shared with every school in the State of Maine.”
